When in Manila, every citizen knows that traffic in the Philippines is inescapable. The only time you can drive freely with minimal headaches is during wee hours. Truthfully, a lot of government officials have shared their resolutions about the unacceptable situation. One of which is the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or MMDA. It has established and implemented solutions that could somehow help decongest the traffic problems in the country. One of the many regulations MMDA had presented was the Number Coding.
What is Number Coding?
According to the MMDA website, the Number Coding, formerly known as, Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, is a traffic decongestion scheme which bans private and public utility vehicles using the main roads during peak hours. The scheme was first implemented in 1995.
Generally, the scheme prohibits cars from using the main roads, especially, if your plate number ends in the following category:
![number coding scheme]()
Source: MMDA.gov.ph
Unfortunately, even with the number coding scheme, the traffic in the Philippines is still horrible.
Admittedly, despite spreading awareness about the said scheme, others still find number coding confusing. Because there are municipalities that allow cars even if they are “coding.” Moreover, there are rules and regulations MMDA implemented that others aren’t aware of. For example, “swerving.”
What is “Swerving?”
As explained by the MMDA website, swerving is a movement wherein vehicles shift from a lane to another. However, it could be tagged as reckless driving if done abruptly and irresponsibly. (E.g. swerving in an abrupt and careless manner, swerving without the use of signals, swerving across solid lines).
So, to enlighten everyone, a netizen by the name of Paul Libid, shared an informative post in Facebook, which I think will help EVERY ‘JUAN.’
I suggest to read, screenshot, and have the post below information printed out:
1. SWERVING is NOT a traffic violation. Swerving is defined as shifting 2 or more lanes very quickly. Moving one lane to the left or right is not swerving, no matter where on the road you do it. And it is even less of a violation when you do it with a signal. Call the Metro Base for help.
Kotong cops love to arrest people for swerving. What you can do:
Confidently and politely assert your knowledge of the rules and your rights.
Ask for a ticket and the name of the arresting officer. The ticket will identify the policemen and serve as evidence if you complain against them at the MMDA for extortion.Drop the name of Corazon Jimenez, MMDA General Manager, who is in charge of these MMDA cops. (She is a graduate and former professor of AIM; personally recruited by MMDA Chairman Tolentino also of AIM.)
2. MMDA has confirmed that YOUR LICENSE MAY NOT BE CONFISCATED at a traffic apprehension. The only time they can do so is if you are part of an accident, or it is your third violation and you have not settled your fines yet.
Police officers are only allowed to give you a ticket, which you can contest. Take the ticket in some instances, so that you can report the officer who did it.
Also, ask these officers for their written “Mission Order” by their supervisor. If they apprehend you for a violation that is not in their mission order for the day, you can report them for disciplinary action.
3. If a vehicle is apprehended with a Senior Citizen on board, said vehicle is exempt from the regulation and cannot be fined–provided that the Senior Citizen on board has his Universal White Senior Citizen card (the one used at restaurants). If the cop insists, refer him to Mr. Hermenegildo San Miguel of Makati City Hall, Tel. Nos 819-3270 & 819-3271.
4. NUMBER CODING and WINDOW HOURS
No window hours: Makati, Malabon and Las Pinas. Number Coding is 7 am — 7 pm
No number coding: Taguig, Marikina and Paranaque. So, feel free to
roam around these cities anytime.Pasig City: Window hrs 9 am — 4 pm
Number Coding except on: Ninoy Aquino Avenue, MIA Road, Domestic Road, portions of Airport Road, Sales Road, Tramo.San Juan: Window hours
EDSA, C5, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Ave. Roxas Blvd (Pasay): window hours regardless of the city (meaning, one can drive via EDSA in Makati any day).
Metro Manila (Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, parts of Pasay, Pateros, Quezon City, Taguig, and Valenzuela): Number coding window hours 10 am-3 pm
5. MMDA officers are not allowed to group together in order to apprehend.
They are not even allowed to stand together in groups of 2 or more.
The only time they are allowed to work together is for special
operations (probably when they apprehend groups of buses for smoke
belching)6. Using the yellow lane is a traffic violation and will get you a
ticket. However, buses are really not allowed to go out of the yellow
lane, so if you see selective apprehension of private cars only, you may complain.7. Report abuses to: Mr. Antonio Pagulayan (Personnel Officer)
Call: MMDA hotline (163) or call the METRO BASE at 0920 938 9861
or 0920 9389875 and ask for an Inspectorate. They will send inspectors to the place where these MMDA officers are extorting.